Improvement in railroad-switch stands



J. H. AINSWOR'IH.

RAILROAD SWITCH STAND:

:Patented Mag 30, 1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. AINSWORTH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD-SWITCH STANDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 177,913, dated May 30,1876; application filed May 6, 1876.

To all whom it-may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. AINSWORTH,

of the city and county'of Philadelphia, and

State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSwitch-Stands;v

and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear and exactdescription of the nature thereof, sufiicient to enable others skilledin the art to which my invention appertains to which is adapted for athreemotion switch. The lever is pivoted to a tipping block, so

that it may be moved completely to the right and left and intermediatethereof, and when in the latter position the tipping block permits thelever to be swung to a horizontal position, and locked by the box towhich the block is journaled.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a base, on which is supported abox, B, one of whose sides is open. Within the box is fitted a block, 0,which is journaled to said box, the axis at extending transversely, sothat the block may have a tipping motion or swing in the direction ofthe length of the railroad'tracks. 1) represents the switch-lever, whichis pivoted at its lower end to the tipping block 0 at the open side ofthe box B, the axis b of said lever extending at right angles to theaxis a, of the block, whereby the lever may swing in the di rection atright angles to the direction of the railroad-tracks. To the lever, atd, will be at tached the connecting-rod of the switch-piece,

and a ball-and-socket, universal, or other joint will be provided at theproper point of the connecting-rod or lever, for preventing binding ofsaid rod during the movements of the switch-lever.

It will be seen that, owing to the axis 1), the lever D may be swungfully to the'right or left, as in Fig. 3, whereby the switch-piece willbe correspondingly moved to the right or left; or it may be brought toan intermediate or upright position, as in Fig. 1, for an intermediateposition of the switch-piece. In the former case the switch-leverextends transversely to the walls of the open side of the box B, and

consequently prevents tipping of the block 0,

the lever being locked or secured in any wellknown manner. In the lattercase the block, not being controlled, will move on its axis a, and thelever swings laterally down to a horizontal position, as in Figs. 2 and4, whereby it will be reliably locked in the box B, and the switclrpiecesecurely held. In order to again move the switch-piece, the lever Drequires to be raised to an upright position, its lower end emergingfrom the box B, whereby the lever may be swung to the right or left 011the axis 1).

The box will be preferably steel-faced or chilled, but other metals maybe employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A tipping block having the switch-lever pivoted thereto, andoperating to impart lateral movement to the lever on the axis of theblock, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 2. The open-sidedbox B, with the tipping block 0 journaled thereto, in combination withthe switch-lever, pivoted to the tipping block, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

JOHN H. AINS WORTH. Witnesses:

JOHN A. WEIDERSHEIM, A. P. GRANT.

